Berri: Syria's Positions Represent Those of Entire Arab World

Service :

TEHRAN, March 30 (ICANA) – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri assured on Wednesday that the government formation is underway and "it will be formed sooner or later, but the timing has not been set yet."

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 7:48:33 PM

Addressing developments in Syria during his weekly parliamentary meeting, he said: "The situation in Syria was already stable and it will always stand as the fort of Arabism."

"It not only expresses the positions of the Syrian people, but those of the entire Arab world," he stressed, according to naharnet.com.

"Yesterday's scenes from the Arab world confirm that Syrian President Bashar Assad's drive towards development and modernization will continue," Berri continued.

The speaker held a telephone conversation with President Assad during which they discussed the latest developments.

Syrian President Bashar Assad blamed "conspirators" Wednesday for an extraordinary wave of dissent against his authoritarian rule, but he failed to lift the country's despised emergency law or offer any concessions in his first speech since the protests began nearly two weeks ago.

Assad said Syria is facing "a major conspiracy" that aims to weaken this country of 23 million.

"We don't seek battles," Assad, 45, said in an unusually short, televised speech before legislators who cheered for him and shouted support from their seats. "But if a battle is imposed on us today, we welcome it."

He made only a passing reference to the protesters' calls for change, saying "we are for reform" and promising that certain measures were being studied. He did not elaborate.